Lubricating mechanism for rotary valves



.1 Jan. 22, 1929. r 1,699,852

.1, E. MoRAvEc LUBRICATING MECHANISM- FOR ROTARY VALVES Filed Dec. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FROM OIL PUMP Joss u E-Munnvsc B MAQQW Jan. 22, 1929.

J. E. MORAVEC LUBRICATING" MECHANISM FOR ROTARY VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1926 Hrrun NE 7 Patented Jan. 22,1929.

JOSEPH E. MORAVEC, OF GLEVELAFJD,OHIO.

LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR ROTARY VALVES.

Application filed December 2, 1926.. Serial No. 152,148.

This invention relates to lubricating mechanism for rotary valves, and more especially to such mechanism for rotary valves of intenal combustion engines.

A number of internal combustion engines have been provided with rotary valves having transverse channels for directing sources of fuel supply into the engine cylinders and for service as exhaust ports from said cylinders, but difficulty has been experienced heretofore in positively and automatically lubricating such valves and its bearings. I believe I have solved this problem when the valve is applied to engines having a plurality of cylinders and of the four-cycle tyy e, and most important of all, I have accomplished such result with the provision of a single cylinder valve for an engine of a large number of cylinders, and by using the circulating system of oil medium throughout the valve cylinder and retaining the crank casein such circuit.

It is my purpose to apply my circulation system of lubrication for rotary valves to such valves of the sectional type whose sections are in alignment but longitudinally detachable, there being as many sections of the valve as there are engine cylinders, and a transverse channel through each section of the valve. Of course, in such an arrangement there is at once presented the problem of providing a longitudinal lubricating channel through the valvefrom end to end, without seriously conflicting with these transverse channels in the several valve sections. It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide a series of longitudinal channels through i the connecting parts between valve sections and transverse angular channel portions deflecting the lubricating means from the axis of the sections at one and end returning again to the axis at the opposite end of the section to enter the said longitudinal channel of the series through the said connecting or axial parts between sections. Thus the fuel channels transverse of the respective sections of the valve are not interfered with, but the lubricating channel is made up of various staggered portions which are however continuous from one end of the valve to the other. a

It is evident that such continuous lubricating channel for a rotary valve ofan internal combustion engine, can be readily connected with the crank case through the intermediacy of the usual oil pump to form a return system for forcing the oil from the case through the rotary valve and back again to the case, just as well as the interior cavitiesof a cam shaft of an internal combustion engine can be so connected up with thecase, and I have made useof this means of forcibly lubricating my rotary valve of the sectional type, will hereinafter be explained.

With .these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain new and improved structures and arrangements of parts as will be recited in the appended claims, described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a vertical, longitudinal section through the upper part of a multi-cylinder engine embodying my improvements, certain parts being shown broken away to disclose the inner construction related to the invention;

Figure 2is a side view of the rotary valve shaft, one end being shown in central longitudinal section, and the other in elevation; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a single valve section;

Figure f is an end elevation of the same; Figure 5 is a sectional, and Figure 6 an end view of one of the end caps of a valve section; v

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of a shaft bearing unit, taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2, Figs. 8 to 7 being on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 2;

Figure 8 1s a longitudinal section, on a still larger scale than Fig. 3, of one of the valve sections;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8, and

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line10-10 of Fig. 8.

For convenience in illustration and description, therotary valve shaft 8 is shown mounted in a water-cooled casing 9, above alined cylinders 10 carrying pistons 11. The construction embodies an internal combustion engine of the four-cycle type andhaving six cylinders, though it is to be understood that any number of cylinders maybe used when incorporating my lubrication system, and this valve may well be adapted to the two-cylinder type. The sald shaft is composed of six sections 12 which are cylindrical in their outer contour and in their main portion,

hat having at their ends reduced bearing eX- tensions 13 concentric withthel section, one extension having a cross piece 14 to lock de tion, and is not claimed herein perse. The

valve sections 12 are solid, save that each is provlded with the fuel cross channels above mentioned, and certain provision part cularly made for lubrication of these parts which will be described in detail hereinafter.

The valve sections 12 are mounted for rotation within the casing by means of-annular bearing members 16 having an axial opening in each for receiving the extensions 13, as shown in Fig. 2. These parts 14 and 15 are shown inclocked relation in the opening 17 of the members 16, so that the several sections rotate together while the bearing members 16 are held in non-rotatable position relative to the casing. An efficient result is obtained by providing the several main body portions 18 of the sections 12 with spaced, parallel peripheral grooves 19 in which are seated expansion rings 20 having overlapping ends, and normally expanded somewhat above the surface of the body, as shown in Fig. 8. It is thus seen that the bodies 18 fit rather loosely in the casing 9 and are guided efliciently bythe said expansion rings 20.

The bearing members 16 consist of the usual outer. sleeve portion which may be of cast metal, and an inner bushing 21 of bronze or other hard alloy which receives the ex tensions 13 directly therein. The centrally positioned bearing member 26 is longer than the members 16 but is otherwise constructed like themf Also, at either end of the valve shaft extensions 26 may vary slightly in length from themain members 16, but other- ,wise not differing greatly in structure and function from them. Within the end bush ings21 the extensions 13 ofthe end sections 12 are coupled with the stub shafts22 by the locking parts 14. and 15, as in the arrangement between inner extensions 18 of adjacentsections. These shafts 22 are supported by frame parts 23 and 24 of any desired form of structure Which is not particularly material to the inventionherein disclosed and claimed. The shaft 22 at one end of the valve shaft 8 is operatively .conneced with the crank shaft 25 by suitable gearing 27, as will be understood.

Whatever the arrangement of driving parts may be, the problem is presented of preperly lubricatin a valve shaft Smade up of a series of Valve sections 12 having essentially cross channels 7 with which any lubrieating current must not interfere, and sta tionary bearing members 16 about the extensions 13 and requiring lubrication of the extensions within the bushings 17. It is also desirable to force a stream of oil through the entire length of the valve shaft 8, an operation all the more diflicult because of the otherwise desirable construction of the shaft as above indicated.

To accomplish the result outlined without varying greatly from the advantageous structure indicated, it is my intention to provide each extension 13 with an axial opening 28 which will direct any axial stream of lubricating liquid from one section 12 to another, also providing each end shaft 22 with alined axial opening 29 which may not, however, extend the entire length of the stubshaft, as willbe later explained. To direct the lubrieating agent through the several valve sections 12 from one extension to the other, I provide stationary end caps or cups 30, also of bronze or equally suitable material. hav- .ing axial openings 31 of a size that will enable the caps to fit neatly over the extensions 13, as shown clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawings. These caps or cups 30 fit closely in contact with the stationary members 16 at their annular rim portions 32, the latter litting neatly in alinement with the peripheral outline of the adjacent section 12 but not 1'0- tating with it. These caps or cups are snugly fitted against the stationary members 16.

with their smooth outer surfaces contacting the members 16, the cup-shape orinner faces directed towards the rotatable body 18, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8. The so-called inner faces of the parts 30 therefore provide an annular space 33 about the extensions 13 which communicates with the axial opening 28 of the extensions by means of a cross channel 34 through the extensions 13 adjacent the body 18, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

To provide for flow of the lubricating luatcrial from one space 33 to a similar annular space in another end cup 30 at the other end of the section 12, I provide a longit-iulinal opening35 through the body 18 parallel with its axis but remote from the gas channel 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 4, 8 and 10. This opening 35 travels about the shaft with the shaft sections as the latter rotates but is al ways in communication with the anl' ular space 33 of the caps and consequently with the axial openings 28. The end parts being provided with the axial openings 29, it .is evi dent that there is thus provided a continuous lubricating channel throughout the entire length of thevalve shaft '8 and communicating with the end channels 29. It will thus be seen that the connection between the scv eral openings 35 of the sections 12 and the axial channels 28 is made by the cups 30.

The frame structure 23 includes therein an enveloping hollowsleeve 36 surrounding the The drive shaft 39 extending from gearing connected to the shaft to the shaft 22, is

extended below the former to drive the pump it) of conventional structure, but designed in this case to pump oil and vapor from the crank case ll through the pi e 42 into and through the pump 40, and tiencev through the pipe 43 from the pump to the entrance opening of the radial inlet opening 38, so that oil andvapors are thus forced from the case ll up and into the axial channel 29, and fron'l thence through the entire length of the valve shaft 8 to the corres 'ionding. space 3'? at the farther end of the shaft whence it may be forced through 38 to pipe la back into the crank case ll, at all).

The course of the fluid pumped from the -ase into the gearing end of the shaft 8,

through the said shaft and out at the opposite end thereof, will be a zig-zag one, passing axially through the channels 28 in the extension 13 as the latter are rotating within "the stationary bearing members 16, and tale ing a radial course as it reaches the sections 18 moving outward through the cross chan nelfld in the extension 13, until it reaches the annular space 33 in the stationary cup members whence relief is found by lengthwise movement through the channel in the retating section 18 to the opposite end of the section. At the latter place the fluid is forced inwardly through space 33 within the flange whence thecross channel 3% directs the liquid to the axial channel 28 again. This staggered course will be continued until channel 44: is reached which leads directly back to the case 41. The channels 35, as shown in Figs. 4:, 8 and 10, serve well to direct the fluids in a course that will not interfere in any way with the course of the explosive fuel for generating the power sought, as the course of the lubricating fluids is positively directed in a different path from that of the fuel, and so that neither may interefere with the other.

It is of special note that the bearing units 16 may still be useda desi able construction having very great structural advantages, and that the particular system of rotary valve structure may, by my system of rotary valve lubrication, be utilized without interfering in the least with the transverse passage of fuel gases through the valve shaft or the stationary position of the bearing members 16 in the casing 9, the positive direction of the fuel gases in the pro-percourse being certain notwithstanding the necessary relative rotation of the shaft 8 and easing 9. Among the striking advantages of any structure it 1s to be noted that the cup members 30 are readily assembled within the casing. It also permits the removal of the valve sections 12 without carrying with them the said cup members which may be removed one by one and assembled on the extensions 13 when the alve is to be again connected within the asing. From the disclosure inF 3 tob and 8, 9 and 10, it is clear that all passages in the parts 13, 18 and 30 may be readily cleaned and that the mounting of the cups 30 again in position, will provide the continuous lubrication circuit, though the parts 16, 17 AIlClBO are stationary and the parts 12 and 13 are actively rotatin While it have herein shown my invention embodied in an apparatus for lubricating the several sections of a rotary valve shaft for an internal combustion engine it is to be understood that my invention is by no means to be limited in this respect, and that my inventive idea is applicable to generic struc tures wherein a rotary shaft of varying radius is to be lubricated while rotating within a fixed cylindrical casing;

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a rotary valve casing, a rotary sectional valve supported by said casing with itsends protruding therefrom and having a continuous but staggered channel therethrough for carrying lubricating oil and extending from one of said ends to the other, nonrotatable bearing sleeves between the sections of the valve, flange members at each end of the several bearing sleeves and forming therein a portion of said stag gored channel, certain portions of said-channel being adjacent the bearings to be lubricated, an oil circuit including therein the said channel, an oil reservoir and an oil pump, and means for actuating the said pump.

2. In combination, an elongated rotatable member mounted for rotation in alined bearings, there being enlarged and reduced portions on said member, and axial openings through said reduced portions, other openings radial of the reduced portions at the ends of the enlarged portions and a longitudinal channel through the enlarged portion and flanged cup members encircling the reduced portions and having an annular channel therein for completing communication between the longitudinal channel and the said radial and axial openings, all of said openings forming together a continuous but staggered channel, and means for forcing oil supply into one end of said continuous channel, through the same, and out the opposite end till thereof for lubricating the parts of said rotatable member, i a

3. In an internal combustion engine, 1n

combination, a rotary valve shaft having a dial openings to the longitudinal channel in the said body, and deflecting the oil back at the opposite end thereof from the longitudinal channel through the radial openings to the corresponding axial channel, whereby oil may be forced from one end of the shaft through the latter in a staggered course to the opposite end thereof.

4. In an internal combustion engine, in combination, a rotary valve shaft having a cylindrical body portion provided with radial channels therein for directing fuel gases into the engine cylinders and reduced axial extensions at either end thereof,a casing enclosing said shaft and having end openings through which said extensions may protrude, there being axial channels in said extensions and openings out-Ward therefrom adjacent the body portion and a longitudinal channel through the body portion eccentricallymounted therein but remote from the fuel channels, cup means at either end of said body portion for deflecting oil-in its longitudinal course in the said longitudinal channel to the said outward openings in the extensions, whereby oil ma be forced from one end of the valve shaft t erethrough though in a staggered course to the opposite end thereof without interfering With the fuel gas control by the same shaft.

5. In a sectional rotary valve for controlling the passage of fuel fluids to a series of engine cylinders, a cylindrical valve section having transverse fuel channels and reduced axial extensions at either end of the section, there being a longitudinal channel in said section remote from the fuel channel and having open ends, each of said extensions having an axial channel therein and transverse channels adjacent the cylindrical portion of the section and communicating with the said axial channels but not with the longitudnial channel, and detachable but nonrotatable annular members encompassing the said extensions and mounted at either end of the section and provided on their inner faces With annular channels providing communication between said longitudinal channels of the sections and the said transverse channels.

6. In a valve section having an eccentric longitudinal channel and a reduced axial ex tension, the latter provided with an axial channel and a transverse channel communicating therewith and adjacent the main portion of the section, an annular cup member mounted concentrically upon said extension and having an annular channel on its inner face providing communication between the said longitudinal channel and the transverse channel.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of November, 1926.

JOSEPH E. MORAVEC. 

